Kissing the Rival by Kaylee Ryan
The Kissing Games #2
Contemporary Romance
June 15, 2023- Self Published
ARC
Review by Angela
Why, yes, I did start reading this book immediately after finishing the first installment in this multi-author series. Lately, rivals to lovers is my catnip so OF COURSE I had to find out how Jasper and Charlotte’s love story played out. And for the most part, it worked for me.
If you’ve read Kissing My Brother’s Bride, you know that Charlotte is Audrey’s older sister and Jasper is Linc’s BFF. And they do not like each other, it all stems from first impressions and the rivalry of their college days. Now they are stuck together at a beautiful resort in Florida amid a disaster of a wedding.
But a kiss opens their eyes to the chemistry between them.
This was a well-crafted rivals-to-lovers story, which in my world means they aren’t too mean to each other and their preconceived notions are easily overcome. After the wedding that didn’t happen and the kiss, they find out that Charlotte works at a pediatric practice that Jasper’s hospital is acquiring… forcing them to spend more time together. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that they both have been harboring feelings toward each other.
My only issue is that Jasper lays it on super strong once he and Charlotte become a thing. He’s all in, even going so far as to make up reasons to the board of his hospital to get more time to spend with her. All in, as in deciding they are a forever couple after just a short period of time. I kind of wish their relationship played out a little longer instead of the all in happening so fast. But really this is just a quibble.
This was a quick, enjoyable read. I liked both of the main protagonists and loved their interactions with other characters in the series. I liked the ending and HEA. The next book in the series, Kissing My Crush, features Tyler and Amara and I’m very much looking forward to diving in.
Final grade- B-
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